"pay close attention!"
"Full right rudder!"
The agile hull of the Flying Leaf suddenly tilted sharply to the right, and its starboard side was almost gliding against the water. People on the deck who couldn't stand still fell down, and screams came from the cabin. Griffith felt that he was about to be thrown off the side of the ship. His left hand almost buckled into the thick armrest, and his right hand hurriedly reached towards his companion who had no armrest to hold on to.
Galadia gently pushed the outstretched arm of her companion in front of her chest, and flashed quickly on the deck with grace and agility, swinging her tall figure like the most superb performer in the circus. She stabilized her center of gravity and looked at Ge. Riffith's face was slapped hard on the side of the boat.
Homemon Watts's clipper was extremely nimble and sophisticated. In the initial moment of chaos, an invisible breeze supported the fallen passengers, and the ship quickly stabilized.
After a period of screaming and cursing, the freshmen and sailors poured out of the cabin to see if anyone had fallen into the water or was injured. After a while, everyone who was fine gathered on the port deck and looked in the direction indicated by the sailor's lantern.
A vague outline floated lifelessly in the darkness less than a hundred meters away from the Flying Leaf, looming like a shadow.
"It may be a shipwreck. Although it is rare on this waterway, it is not surprising." The kind female professor walked up to the deck and pushed the thick glasses. "Gentlemen, apprentice knights, I need some volunteers and sailors. Get on that ship together and search for any passengers who need help."
"Yes, Ms. Marian." Several teaching assistants and associate professors immediately made arrangements.
"I'll go too," Galadia said unexpectedly, "I feel an ominous aura."
Sonia cast a searching look at her trainee knight. Griffith wiped his nosebleed and immediately stood out from the crowd: "I fought a boarding battle with the orcs on the Broken Coast."
"It's enough to add me," Lana said, taking out the torch. "The others are here to join us and strengthen the vigilance."
The sailors deftly lowered the lifeboats on the Flying Leaf. Two brave sailors jumped on first, followed closely by Griffith and three others.
"Light guides the path of travelers, making danger and evil invisible."
Sonia took the wand from her waist, held it in her hand, and softly chanted a light spell. A crystal ball appeared on the top of the exquisite wand, slowly falling towards the boat. Griffith hurriedly stretched out his hand, and the blazing white light ball floated a few centimeters above his palm. As his thoughts moved, it illuminated the surrounding area with soft light.
Sonia lay on the side of the ship and shouted: "This is a protective spell. If there is danger around, the light ball will flash as a warning..."
At this time, although it had just entered night, the surrounding darkness was extremely deep and thick.
The sailors rowed, and Griffith and Lana took out the daggers hidden in their boots and stood guard at the bow and stern of the boat. At first, they could still hear bursts of noise and voices from the freshmen running around on the Feiye, but the boat was only a dozen meters away, and the people and voices seemed to be swallowed up in the darkness and silence. , distant and faint, with only the solitary boat and the blurry shadow of the ship ahead.
"Go around first." Griffith pointed to the stern of the ship.
The faces of the sailors were a little stiff, with an indescribable solemnity and hesitation. But they still followed the apprentice knight's request and rowed towards the stern of the tall ship.
This is a medium-sized passenger ship. Judging from its style, it should travel between the port and offshore. The sail on the mast has disappeared, and there is no moving figure on the deck.
In the deep night, the name of the ship can be seen written in white paint on the tower-like stern of the ship——
"Kono".
…
The sailors lit torches, raised their heads and shouted to the deck. "Is anyone here?"
The sailing ship, surrounded by darkness, answered them with dead silence. Several tangled ropes and a rope net used for getting up and down could be seen hanging down from the port side.
"These riggings should usually be put away on the deck and will only be put down when leaving the ship," a sailor said. "However, I can barely see that the lifeboat of this ship has not been put down."
"There's a smell." Galadia moved the tip of her nose slightly, "I can't tell what it is, but it's very damp, cold, and a little fishy."
"Where did it emanate?"
"Do you think I'm a dog?" The elf complained, "It's everywhere. Maybe the water used to clean the floor stinks."
Lana nimbly grabbed the hanging rope and climbed up, and was on the deck in a flash. He first checked some situations, and then shouted to the following:
"Come up, there's no one."
The sailors followed. Griffith also climbed up, fixed the lifeboat on the side of the ship, and then stretched out his hand to Galadia, who was still climbing up.
The elf girl, who is always light and agile, is climbing on the rope net to get on the boat, looking warily at the sea and the boat.
"What's wrong?"
"Hmm~ I guess, it's nothing," Galadia said hesitantly, "I thought I saw a rope falling into the sea."
"Have it?"
"Maybe it's an illusion."
The deck was deserted. Some ropes hung messily from the tall mast, and there was no trace of the sail anywhere. The pilothouse on the aft deck was dark. Logically speaking, even if the whole ship was resting, there should be night watch sailors there.
"Is there anyone there?" shouted a sailor.
The silent darkness continued to watch them with silence.
The elf girl closed her eyes, turned her head slightly, and her long pointed ears twitched, as if listening to the movement in the darkness. After a moment, she opened her eyes and shook her head: "I didn't find anything."
"How about we split into two groups? Galadia and I go check out the captain's cabin and the wheelhouse," Griffith said. "Rana and these gentlemen check out the first cabin below the deck, but don't go deep."
"Only the first floor?" Lana asked, but immediately nodded in agreement, "Okay, then it will be the first floor. We will all come back here to meet up in ten minutes whether we are discovered or not."
Soon, Lana and the sailors disappeared into the darkness around the corner.
"Maybe the crew escaped," Griffith nodded to the elf girl beside him. "The ship's hull was slightly damaged but not serious. The crew and passengers should have sufficient time to leave records or explanations before abandoning the ship."
"Yes." Galadia responded simply, and then quietly followed the trainee knight toward the upper cabin. She didn't carry her usual longbow and double swords due to school regulations, and only had a wand in her hand.
The small ball of light created by Sonia floats in front of it like a firefly. When it encounters dark aisles and corners, it will automatically hover there and light the way without Griffith's control.
The three-masted schooner was maneuvered from the uppermost quarters on the quarterdeck. Huge portholes were opened on the wall panels there, barely blocking rain and direct sunlight while still allowing for a good view.
The evening breeze from the Narrow Sea blew into the cockpit through the window. The Feiye's lights flickered on and off in the distance like will-o'-the-wisps. Several tables and chairs are neatly placed in the cab, with teacups and voyage charts fixed on them.
"The Kono is a regular sailing ship sailing from Odessa to Sevastro, with 30 crew members and 160 passengers on board. It left the port two days ago," Galadia illuminated the route next to the ship's helm with a torch Planning sheet, "The last entry in the log was on the night of departure. They deviated greatly from their own course."
Griffith opened several teapots that stood beside his seat. These scented teas were used to refresh themselves during the night voyage, and they only drank a little bit. Judging from the consumption, it was estimated that the crew members left before midnight.
There is no crew here, and no further clues. Since the wheelhouse is a semi-open area, rain and sea breeze make it unsuitable for storing information. The voyage log and the captain's records can only be found in the captain's cabin on the lower floor.
The two left the cockpit and walked along the escalator on the other side to the captain's cabin downstairs. The lingering dank smell also began to become thicker.
Griffith was surprised to find that if he got close to Sonia's small ball of light, he would feel that the dank and solemn atmosphere in the air would be blocked by the faint light, and a warm and soft joy would arise spontaneously from the bottom of his heart.
"Griffith!" The elf girl suddenly reminded softly, "There is damage on the armrest."
The trainee knight shined the light of the fire and found a deep gouge mark on the wooden handrail instructed by Galadia.
"It was split with an axe," Galadia leaned down and observed the gouge mark, "It seems like this is the only trace."
"If they encountered pirates," Griffith raised his torch and looked around, "there would be many traces of battle, and the deck would not be so clean. Did you find any blood stains?"
"No," Galadia shook her head and opened the door to the captain's cabin. "Look, the door to the captain's cabin is not damaged. It doesn't look like it was attacked by pirates or mutated creatures. You can still do it by blocking the door and holding on. Yes."
The Sea of Tranquility is the kingdom's inland sea, and there are naval warships wandering in the offshore area. Passenger ships under attack need to hold on for a while and sound the alarm and backup will be available within hours.
There was no one in the captain's cabin. There is a row of crossbows hanging on the wall. It can be seen that their owner is usually a vigilant guy, and he did not use them before he left.
"There is a gouge mark on the floor," Galadia knelt down and inspected the floor of the cabin. "The gouge mark is very shallow."
"It's normal for a ship to have some scratches and damage. Let's look at the voyage diary," Griffith shrugged and picked up a diary from the table.
"Captain Curnow, Jess Curnow's Voyage Diary, August 27th."
"At 3 p.m. on August 27, the Kono departed from Odessa for Sevastro, fully loaded with cargo and 160 passengers. According to the port astrologer's report, we will encounter gusty winds and light waves during our journey.
“At 7 p.m., I entertained the first-class ladies and gentlemen in the cabin.
"Today's salmon is not too fresh. I have written down the gentlemen's comments and will use it to claim compensation from the Narrow Sea Sailing Catering Company when I return to port.
"At 9 p.m., the hull of the ship was hit. I immediately led people to check the bottom tank, and there was no damage. The seabed in this area is very flat and safe. We may have hit a whale.
"At 9:45 p.m., several guests in the second-class cabin complained that their dogs could not be found. This happened often, so I asked the second officer to comfort them. Everyone knows that those beasts are at risk of jumping into the sea on ships.
“At 10:15 p.m., there was a report from the second-class cabin that a woman and child were missing, and I have launched a full ship search.
"At 10:40 p.m., my second mate and boatswain disappeared. When they were last seen, they were preparing to search the cargo hold. It was said that there was a scary and strange noise coming from there."
This concludes Captain Jess Curnow's voyage diary.
The diary and other documents were neatly stored in a corner of the desk. Apparently the captain still felt that everything was under control even after recording the last line. It could also be that he is trying to stay calm and collected.
"We need to notify Rana and the Flying Leaf as soon as possible," Galadia took out a whistle used in emergencies and blew it hard against her mouth.
The sharp whistle pierced the silent darkness. Griffith noticed that the lights on the Flying Leaf not far away were also messy.
"What happened?" Rana, who was responsible for searching the first floor below the deck, rushed back quickly.
"The Kono has been attacked, probably from the cargo hold on the bottom floor. It is not safe for you to continue searching there," Griffith said. "We will return to the Flying Leaf immediately."
"Aren't you going to check again?" Several sailors with Lana looked at each other. "Maybe there are passengers hiding in the lower cabin."
Galadia also nodded and looked at Griffith with inquiring eyes.
"Maybe yes, but the enemies who attacked the Cono may also be hiding in the bottom warehouse," Griffith said. "I don't want to rush deep there to explore before being fully prepared; on the other hand, if we deploy Too much power coming here will damage the Feiye's guarding strength."
At this moment, a small boat on the Feiye had already approached.
"What happened?" Ophelia and Midian Maier stood on the boat, shouting on guard, "Where are the crew and passengers?"
"The Kono was attacked, and the sailors and passengers are missing." Griffith stopped the two Shutorals who wanted to climb onto the side of the ship to support them. "We did not conduct a complete search, and the passengers may be in danger of being attacked." It’s still hidden in the bottom of the ship, or it may leave. It doesn’t matter, now we all return to the Flying Leaf, and use the rope to drag Konno to a safe area for further inspection.”
"How about that?"
"There may be survivors in the cabin!"
"The attacker may still be on board!"
The sailors, Galadia and Ophelia shouted together, strongly disagreeing with Griffith's approach. Lana and Medienmaia did not participate in the conversation. Their eyes were cast behind everyone and into the darkness nearby to prevent danger there.
"Otherwise? Are you going to use the few manpower you have on hand to divide into several teams to explore the lower cabins and be killed one by one in a strange environment and darkness?" Griffith shook his head and said, "This is not far from the coast of the Whispering Forest. Far away, the attack on the sailors and passengers may be some kind of monster we don’t know about. There are only a few professors and assistants on the Flying Leaf, and except for them and the trainee knights, the others have no experience in dealing with mutant creatures."
Ophelia and the sailors were shaken. They looked at the thick darkness around them, and finally began to fix the ropes to the Corno.
"But~ we only checked one cabin," Galadia bit her lip and looked at Griffith and said, "The passengers may be hiding in the lower cabin, unable to call for help or injured..."
"Maybe," Griffith patted the elf girl on the shoulder, "but the reality is that we have to make a choice. The people on the Flying Leaf are equally important as the passengers on the Kono."
Ropes were quickly secured to the Curnow's bow. The other end of the rope was fastened to the stern of the Flying Leaf, ensuring that it could be towed.
After completing this work, Griffith immediately urged everyone who was still hesitating to return to the Flying Leaf.
Ms. Marian listened to Griffith's brief report, and then looked at the diary of the captain of the Curno brought back. She pushed up the glasses on the bridge of her nose with a solemn expression: "I hope we made the right choice. Inform the captain. , speeding back to Homemonworth. Sutoral, from now on, I need you to take turns on duty and not let go of any signs of abnormality. Boys, I need some volunteers to strengthen patrols between cabins, in pairs. "
"Yes, ma'am."
The trainee knights present accepted the order in unison.
"We need weapons," Isius said. "We only have wands, and we didn't bring any of Shutoral's weapons."
Several brave freshmen also stepped forward. They were gesturing with wands that might not be of much use, feeling that this thing was not as useful as a stick.
Ms. Marianne pushed up her glasses, her face silent and solemn: "It seems necessary to allow some necessary weapons to be included in the checked luggage."
"We do," Ophelia said, raising her hand.
"have what……"
Under the gaze of the provost and freshmen, Griffith took off his coat, revealing his gleaming mail armor, daggers and throwing knives.
The other apprentice knights conjured daggers and daggers from their coats, boots and luggage compartments like magic.
"The admission notice should have stated that weapons are not allowed," Ms. Marian sighed, and suddenly her eyes widened, "Wait a minute, Miss Ishtar, how could you bring such a dangerous thing here?"
Ophelia opened the box containing the cello, took out the tip of the longbow, the bowstring, the arrow shaft with the arrowhead removed, and the sharp arrowhead, and assembled them dexterously:
"The school regulations do not prohibit me from carrying bent wooden sticks, gryphon sinews, and iron crafts~"
Ms. Marianne was speechless for a moment, and suddenly she found Lana opening Fiona's suitcase and taking out some strange things from the mezzanine: "Jean, please explain what this is?"
"Dear Madam," Lana glanced at Fiona, who was covering her eyes, and replied seriously, "These are two wooden sticks and a flattened iron block."
